School finalizes its female student lineup

javabeans: Remake drama 2013 School finally has its female cast in place with the casting of Park Se-young, who almost seems too old for the role despite actually being fairly young ‘n green at 24. It’s just, once you’ve played a commanding queen (Noguk in Faith), how do you then go back to the throes of adolescent uncertainty?

girlfriday: I’m actually surprised she’s so young, because after Faith she doesn’t seem to fit in with the high school crowd.

javabeans: She could totally be playing characters in the Park Min-young / Han Hyo-joo age bracket. With more experience, I mean. She’s promising, but still a little rough around the edges. Likable, though, and with emotive eyes.

girlfriday: Yeah she hasn’t blown me away or anything, but she’s good for being green, and she doesn’t go overboard with anything, which is nice. Noguk is just a really good character to have as your first big role.

javabeans: Doesn’t hurt to have Ryu Deok-hwan there to elevate your performance, either. Though I suppose the director’s doing nobody any favors. In any case, Park has been confirmed alongside idol singer Hyo-young, who was previously teased as a possibility as a secondary character, who has the “second biggest female role” of the cast. A third female student will be played by a newbie named Jeon Su-jin. Literally, she’s so new there are no photos of her, and no online profile.

girlfriday: Is she new, or really mysterious? Maybe it’s a thing.

javabeans: Possibly both, but definitely new, in that she was picked out of auditions for background students and stuck out for her “strong personality and charm.” I’m taking that as a positive sign.

girlfriday: I really hope this drama does something interesting and out of the ordinary, because another fluff-only high school drama would be a waste.

javabeans: Park Se-young looks like our main female lead (based on the list so far), which I’m okay with. I do think she seems older than Lee Jong-seok and Kim Woo-bin.

Hyo-young

girlfriday: For some reason Kim Woo-bin seems older than the rest, but that’s probably not right, is it? These tall boys are deceptively young.

javabeans: I don’t think he is. Yup, he’s a 1989-er, along with Lee Jong-seok. He seems young to me, actually, though maybe that’s because he’s also got that gawky green aura about him.

girlfriday: Yeah I always want Kim Woo-bin to stand up straight and enunciate, but then, that awkwardness is also part of his charm. Kinda like Lee Min-ho the early years, in front of people (not so much in front of camera).

javabeans: Right? I think everybody has a really short period in their lives when they grow into their looks but don’t know it yet. Though really, I’m pretty sure he knows he’s hot. Then again, I’m basing my impression of him much more off his clueless Vampire Idol character than his Gentleman’s Dignity punk.

girlfriday: I luff that character. I mean, he fell in love with a bunny. Er, a girl in a bunny suit, but he didn’t know that. Being an alien vampire and all.

javabeans: And he made her talk! She went from 0 to 80 in about two seconds flat once he worked his oblivious mojo. Mostly by being sweet and adorable. Gah, now I really wish Lee Yubi had taken this drama. She would chat circles around him, and he’d just stare at the pretty girl talking a mile a minute like it’s a foreign language, amazed that she could like him back. Gah, now I’m just sad Vampire Idol wasn’t better.

girlfriday: You and me both.

javabeans: But getting back on topic… Lee Yubi aside, I’m willing to see where Park Se-young takes it.

girlfriday: They’re certainly going to look gorgeous together. What I’m most curious about is the tone of this drama. Is it going to be 90210 or Saved By the Bell? Thankfully those aren’t our only choices, but yunno what I mean.

javabeans: If those were our two choices I would swear off teen dramas forever. Thank god there’s a Buffy for every Dawson, a Shut Up for every To the Beautiful You.

girlfriday: Yes, to keep order and balance and harmony in the world. It’s like yin and yang, but with hormones and zits and embarrassing life choices.

October 26, 2012 at 5:30 AM

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I've never seen School, so I can't imagine what the story is about or even what its genre is. So far I like the casts, but I hope they will release the synopsis soon so I can decide if I will follow it or not.

October 26, 2012 at 9:21 AM

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Hearing about this, I cannot but imagine all Korean drama writers going to the same cafeteria where they pick from a blackboardful of fixed menu choices what they want to dramatize next, never veering outside the blackboard.

So the subject matter repeats (it's always about love in different settings), the plot recycles, genres are limited (melo vs. melo vs. melo), even toppings are predictable (with noble idiocy, as the example of the most cliche but popular), with a slightly different sauce each time.

I am waiting for that visionary who will erase everything that is currently on the blackboard and write down a whole new paradigm for Korean dramas. In short, new directions! Otherwise, each new drama will be nothing more than a caricature of the old.

October 26, 2012 at 10:36 AM

October 27, 2012 at 6:07 PM

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There ARE dramas like that though. I mean they are rare I guess because they dont resonate with audiences as much? But like there was dasepo girls, white christmas, evasive inquiry agency/mixed up detective agency, bad family, and I'd say history of a salaryman was also very offbeat (at first anyway).

October 26, 2012 at 5:55 AM

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I havent watch Park Se-young in Faith, but I've seen her in Love Rain and she played the bratty-obsessive girl role well. And I am really happy that Hyo-Young is in this because I think she can act. I know how Koreans hate it when idols are acting in a drama, so I really hope she doesnt blow this chance off. Other than that, i cant wait for Daniel Choi and Jang Nara's interactions again! kyaaa~

October 26, 2012 at 6:41 AM

October 26, 2012 at 6:41 AM

I was so excited when they announced Kim Woo Bin ANd Lee Yubi (who's doing a dang great job on Nice Guy) but was deflated when Lee Yubi's side said she had conflicting schedules.

But I do like Noguk in 'Faith'. Not really sure how she'll translate into a highschooler female lead though.

Still pining for a Lee Yubi and Kim Woo Bin drama. I don't mind a fluffy drama, just make sure it's interesting; whether interestingly bad or interestingly good. No blandness please, although how can one be bland with Lee Yubi and Kim Woo Bin. SIGH.

October 26, 2012 at 5:21 PM

October 26, 2012 at 9:13 AM

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Yeah. Kind of bizarre she would move into a high school drama after Noguk. But I'm in! She's gorgeous and doing well in the acting department. Liking the cast so far. Hope this is one amazing high school drama. Been a long time since the last one.

October 26, 2012 at 9:17 AM

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Yah!

JB - Your disdain for Dawson's Creek was a punch in the heart for me. Why the hating? I mean, just last night 'Don't Trust the B***** in Apt 23' had The Forehead (aka James VanderBeek) embroiled in a possible DC reunion! Although the ep did end with him throwing all of his Dawson's memorabilia into a rowboat and giving it a flaming Viking funeral in the middle of a lake.....

I don't care. Give me a Joey/Pacey pairing, any day. It wasn't Shakespeare but it did push all the right angst buttons for me...

October 26, 2012 at 11:34 AM

October 26, 2012 at 10:28 AM

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Here's a perfect idea...why not have Park se young act with Joowon in Secret agent? she's young and pretty gorgeous, they would look adorable together!!
Ohhh, if only I was the ruler of dramaland, all in the world would be right...lol

October 26, 2012 at 4:11 PM

October 26, 2012 at 11:37 AM

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I can easily see her fitting with the high school crowd after watching her play an immature character in Love Rain. In fact it felt a little jarring at first to see her play queen noguk but now I'm used to it.

October 26, 2012 at 11:39 AM

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I think this girl rocks and I really expected her to end up a lead in her next role, so I think it's an odd choice for her next role, but then again, an ensemble cast gig is always beneficial when an actor wants to learn and grow.

October 26, 2012 at 12:42 PM

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I think she'll fit as a HS student. She looks young and she's a good actress. I love her eyes for some reason, she emotes so much through her eyes which is nice to see. And her and "hubbys" parts in Faith are always my favorite part of the episodes.

October 26, 2012 at 2:12 PM

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Why is that bland young woman staring at the camera? She looks absolutely exhausted. She bears a fair resemblance to the beautiful queen on 'Faith', and hopefully she will pretty herself back up a bit for the new series.

October 26, 2012 at 4:09 PM

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I know it was very hard to stay awake during Love Rain but Park Se-young was also in that in this wanna be love triangle between JGS and Yoona.....she was his friends kid sister that was desperately in love with him...just saying...I seriously did not like her in that role...which just proved her strength in it because I never questioned her motives for why she was doing what she was doing ...she just emoted while the rest continued their Valium like performances..

October 26, 2012 at 10:25 PM

October 26, 2012 at 11:18 PM

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Oh, I'm still really sad that Lee Yubi is not going to be in this drama. I was really looking forward to all the Lee Yubi and Kim Woo Bin moments!!! Oh wells...Anyway I didn't watch Faith but through the recaps here I liked Noguk quite a bit so I guess I'll still be looking out for this drama...and I quite like KWB and Hyoyoung as well. :)

October 27, 2012 at 12:27 AM

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I actually really liked Park Se Young in Faith--she carried herself but hated the king. He was just annoying. I'll probably check out this Kdrama out of curiousity even though I don't like high-school based Kdramas.

October 27, 2012 at 7:43 AM

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Will if Jang Nara going to be in the Drama start to end and not just a cameo role then I would put her as the female lead. As far as i know she never done any drama where she hasn't been the lead, unless it was a cameo role that is. Even in Racecourse where she was indeed second lead she only started the drama well into its production so her role was more a long cameo one and didn't tie her down for the full production of the drama. So I can not really see her agreeing to be tied down to a production she not the lead of, it is counter productive, The idea mute of course if her role is indeed only a cameo one and not tieing her down for the full run of the drama.